Cap-feeding mechanism.



A. JOHNSON.

GAP FBBDING MBCHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FBB.17, 1912.

1,042,922. Patented 0Gt.29,1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I fr .10! L 4 z'v .5.5 j 3 if@ 62 l Il* WHA/58.958 v INVENTOR @y y l ra/2 c//fo/z ATTORNEYS A. JOHNSON.

CAP FEEDING MEGHANISM.

APPLIGATION FILED 12213.17, 1912.

Patented 001. 29, 1912.;

4 SHBBTS-SHEBT 2.

A. JOHNSON.

CAP FEEDING MEGHANISM.

APPLIoATxoN FILED FEB. 17, 1912.

1,042,922. Patented oct.29,1912.

4 SHBETSHEET 3.

A TTORNEYS A. JOHNSON.

GAP FEEDING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 133.17, 1912.

Patented Oct. 29, 1912.

4 SHEETS-'SHEET 4.

WITNESSES wkf ARON JOHNSON, 0F NEW YRK, N. Y.

CAP-FEEDING MECHAN ISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 1912.

Application led February 17, 1912. Serial No. 678,175.

My invention relates to a cap feedinig 4 mechanismespecially adapted for use on bottle capping machines and the principal object of my invention is to provide a new and improved construction whereby the caps will be fed tothe cap-attxing mechanism in proper sequence and in correct position.

More specifically, the object of my invention is to provide a new and improved hopper adapted to contain a-quantity of bottle caps indiscriminately placed therein, movable means being providedV for feeding the caps consecutively in proper position to a suitable outlet. f

@ther objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description thereof proceeds, the new and useful features being'set forth in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification in which similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in whichv Figure 1 is a partial vertical sectional view of the device; Fig. 2 is a side view with the movable element swung to open position; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the device on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a planview of the inner side of the movable element; Fig. 5 is a partial plan view of the opposite side thereof; Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

The cap feeding mechanism herein described and claimed is adapted for use on any bottle capping machine, the size and shape of the parts illustrated being merely one embodiment of the inventive idea, it being clear that various changes may be made without departing from the invent-ion.

Any suitable receptacle adapted to hold a plurality of caps and designated as a whole by 1, together with the upwardly Haring open portion 2 forms, in effect, a hopper and is adapted to receive and hold a quantity of caps. vThe hopper may be supported in any suitable manner, that shown in the drawings embodying a post or support 3, the lower end of the hopper having an extension 4 secured to the post by means of bolts or nuts 5. The hopper may be made in one or more pieces but is preferablyof integral construction.

Within the hopper and extending diagonally thereacross from the bottom adjacent what- I term the front side, to the rear side, is a partition 6; the partition iis shown integral-with the hopper although it is clear that the parts may be separately made, if so desired. VVithinthe hopper and adjacent the top of the front thereof is a detlecting plate 7, the purpose of which will be more specifically set fort-h later.

YThe hopper is preferably cylindrical in formation, one side,l which is termed a front, -being provided with a circular opening adjacent which a revoluble element is mounted in position, the construction and arrangement being substantially as follows: Secured at diametricallyv opposite points on the hopper'are a plurality of lugs 8, 9, forming a mounting for the transversely extending arm 10, .one end of the arm being provided withla pin-.11 mounted between the lugs 8, the opposite end of the arm being provided with an opening 12 adapt-ed to receive the pivoted bolt 13 having a winged nut 14, therein, the boltbeing positioned between the lugs 9. This arm 10 is provided at suitable points with oifsets 15, the outer ends of which are connected by a longitudinally extending piece 16, the intermediate portion of which forms a bearing 17 for a shaft 18 extending transversely thereof. The intermediate portion of Athe arm 10 1s provided with an opening forming a bearing 19 through which this shaft 18 also extends, the inner end of the shaft being threadedas at 2O and extending beyond the arm. The

vouter end of the shaft has a hand wheel 21 secured thereto whereby the shaft may be turned when so desired, there being a pulley 22 secured to the shaft' and alsov a grooved wheel 23 about which the belt' 24 passes; the pulley 22 is designed to be driven by any suitable source of power wlnle the belt 24 actuates coperating means which. will be later set forth. In some instances it may be desirable to turn the shaft 18-w1th out turning the pulley 22 andto this end .the securing means between the pulley and the shaft comprises a pin 25 mounted in asuitable housing 26, there being a helical spring 27 within the housing and engaging the pin whereby the lower end thereof is maintained in engagement in 'a suitable re, cess in the shaft; by reason of its upper. or headed end the pin may be brought out of engagement with the shaft, thereby permitting it to be turned independently of the lo pulley. 4

the shaft 18 is a revoluble element 28, preferably circular in outline, the peripheral portion 29 of which is angularly extending, the outside edge portion of this peripheral part being Hat, as at 30, whereby it may-rest 4securely against a circular plate 31loosely`7 mounted on the revoluble element 28, as shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 3. This loosely mounted element 31 is designed to cover the revoluble element and also to provide a bearing means for the peripheral portion thereof.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 5 it will be noted that this revoluble element- 28 v 'is provided with a number of openings 32, preferably circular in outline, into which vmovable, plugsY 33 are inserted, these plugs being suitably secured to leaf springs 34 carried by the opposite side of the rev oluble element 28 vin any suitable manner, as by means of rivets or screws 35; the plugs may be securedto the springs by screws 36 if so desired. Referring particularly to Fig. 4 it willvbe noted 4that the'plugs 33 which are diametrically. opposite each other and which vare shown occupying upperand lower positions are spaced the same distance from the center of the element; the plugs 33, which lie at opposite sides of the revoluble element in the position shown in Fig. 4, also lie on circles of equal radii.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3 it will be noted that a peripheral shoulder 37 extends partially around the open front of the hopper, the ends of the shoulder being adjacent the top of the structure and being separated by an open or non-shouldered space 38; a second peripheral shoulder 39 is positioned a' suitable distance from Vthe irst shoulder 3.7, this second shoulder 39, however, being continuous and the side wall v 40 between the shoulders lying substantially in the same plane throughout. f

' An annular ring 41 is secured to the front of the hopper and extends around the opening therein, this ring being preferably held in position by an means, such as screws '42;

' if so desired, owever, certain ortions 30' thereof may be movably mounted 1n position, a section 41 being illustrated mounted on a hinge 43 whereby it may be moved in the event of the caps becoming clogged; As shown particularly in Fig. 3, this annular 65 ring, when the parts are in operative posi- Secured to the inner threaded end20 of tion, lies in substantially the same plane as the loosely mounted element 31 mounted adjacent the revoluble element 28.

The front of the hopper between the peripheral shoulder 39 and the annular ring 41 is inclined, as lat 44, the inclination being substantiallyequal to the inclination of the angularly extending peripheral portion 29 of the revoluble element 28; the distance between these angularly extending portions or faces is substantially equal to what may be termed the thickness of the capso that a uantity of caps may be entered or positionedr between j these angularly extending facesin the operation of the device.

As shown particularly in Fig. Il, thecaps are indiscriminately placed within the hopper and are urged toward the front of the devicebecause'of the downwardly extending partition 6, the caps, when being sorted or arranged, occupying the positions shown substantially in Fig. 2whe'rein some caps 45, lie between the before-mentioned inclined faces of the parts 29, 44; otherl caps 45 lying on the substantially vertically extending face 40 between they shoulders 37, 39; still other caps 45b resting on the`shoulder 37` itself.

The purpose of the structure hereinbefore set forth is to properly arrange the caps for feeding to a suitable outlet or chute cariied by the device, which outlet or chute will now be described. Beyond the inclined face or portion 44, are a plurality of shoulders 47, 48, which shoulders are adjacent the annular rin 41 and are designed to receive the crimpe edge portions of the caps which are included or seated between the inclined faces j or portions 29, 44.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1 it will be noted that the substantially annular ring 41 has a portion thereof removed, a rota table serrated wheel 46 being revolubly mounted in position adjacent one end of the ring, which end is also adjacent one end of 110 the peripheral shoulder 48, previously mentioned. The other end of the ring 41, which in Fig. 2 is shown as one end of the hinged section 418, is positioned adjacent the other end of" thel peripheral shoulder 48, these 11fl shoulders being downwardly extended at 49,

50, whereby a chute or outlet 51 is provided. The serrated wheel 46 previously mentioned is of such diameter that its periphery engages with the crimped portions of the caps 120 so that, when the device is in operation and the wheel is turning, the caps adjacent the chute 51 are kept movin and the chances of clogging are lessene This serrated wheel 46 is mounted on a shaft 52 having a 125 grooved wheel 53 also mounted thereon, the before-mentioned belt 24 engaging this grooved wheel. A suitable bearing 54 is provided for the shaft 52 which bearing is preferably rigid and made as a part of the 4wf 56 pivotally mounted in position at 57 to the side of the downwardly extending portion 55 of the device, the cover being maintained in closed position by means of a spring clutch 58; the particular construction of this door is such that a shoulder 59 is provided adjacent one side of the chute or outlet so that caps entering the chute are prevented from falling out; the opposite side of the chute is also provided with a shoulder 59', which shoulder is'preferably made integral with the bearing A54 of the shaft 52,.

In order to provide for a certain degree of adjustment in positioning the hopper on any desirable machine, the guide member 60, which forms, in effect, a continuation of the chute or outlet 51, is pivotally mounted at 61 whereby it may occupy different posi-v tions relatively Vto the chute proper, the sides of the outlet being provided with shoulders 62, 62', whereby the caps are maintained in proper position therein.

The use of the deviceis substantially'as follows :--The caps, after having been de-V posited in the hopper, assume the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2; some ofthe caps fall down into the space between the angularly extending sides 29 and 44 with the crimpedside of the cap adjacent the inner face of the revoluble element 28; other caps come into the space between the plane' face 40 of the hopper andv the inner face of the revoluble element 28 with the crimped sides thereof adjacent the inner face of this revoluble element, the caps then being in proper position; others of the caps, one of which 100, as shown in Fig. 1, become positionedl with the crimped side adjacent the plane face 40, the crimped edge engaging against the inner corner portion of the shoulder 39,

such caps being prevented from entering the chute or outlet 51 because of such engage ment. However, the cap shown as 101, particularly in Fig. 1, with the crimped side thereof adjacent the inner side of the revoluble element 28 `can pass. the shoulder 39 by reason of the. curved formationithereof, `caps occupying a position the` same as that designated 10() being prevented from entering the chute or outlet because of the before-mentioned engagement of th crimped edgewith the shoulder 39. As the revoluble element 28 turns, the plugs 33 engage the caps which are wrongly positioned, like that designated 100, and sweep or move such caps with them during their travel' until they reachthc upper front portion of the chute, where they fall down `Jthrough .the open port-ion 38 into the hopper and again take up .their position adjacent "the lower end of the revoluble element 28. The-turning of the revoluble element 28 is continuous; the caps which are properly positioned pass ing downwardly through the chute 51 in the periods between the times which the plugs 33 come adjacent this chute., the caps von the right side of the hopper (Fig. 2) be venting clogging so that the caps are fed continuously to the chute. The engage'- ment of any one of the plugs 33 `with any of the caps keeps a certain number of the caps constantly in motion until they reach the top of the structure where they fall back. .into the receptacle or hopper, Fig. 2 showing a strap or stop 200 whereby further passage of the caps adjacent the shoulder 39 is prevented. Of course, if any cap comes into' the position of that designated 100 in Fig. 1, such cap will remain in such position until the next plug on t-he movable element 28 comes into position to engage such cap and move it out of the way; the width of the chute is'such that but one cap can enter it at atime, the movable element 28 keeping the caps sutliciently stirred so that the feeding into this chute is facilitated.

Having thus described my invention, I

, claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent: V

1. The combination of a receptacle adapted to contain a plurality of caps, the front of the receptacle being open, a plurality of peripheral shoulders adjacent theopening,

lthe distances between the shoulders being substantially equal to the dia-meter ofv the caps, an outlet communicating with the vreceptacle adjacentthe bottom thereof, the upper ends of the side walls ofthe outlet being adjacent thelower ends ot' some of the shoulders, a member rotatably mounted in position adjacent the front of the receptacle, the member being provided with a 'plurality of resiliently mounted plugs, the

paths of travel of some of the plugs being intermediate some of the said shoulders whereby the plugs may engage some of the caps when they are positioned intermediate some of the shoulders, thereby moving them, other caps being permitted to come adjacent the outlet andenter therein, together with a revoluble serrated wheel adjacent the top of the outlet for engagement with some of the caps in order to bring'thm adjacent the top of the outlet, there being suitable means whereby this wheel may be driven.

2. Thev combination of oa receptacle adapt- `ed to contain a plurality of caps, :1n 'outlet connected to the receptacle, 'means for feeding the caps successively to the outlet, to-

gether with a wheel adjacent the outlet for ed to contain a plurality of caps', peripheral guiding means-carried by the receptacle, revoluble means for moving the caps about the said peripheral guiding means, an outlet connected to they receptacle, together with a revoluble serrated wheel adjacent the outlet for engagement with 'the caps whereby they may be successively fed to the outlet.

5. The combination of a receptacle adapted to contain a plurality of caps, a chute leading from the receptacle, peripheral guiding means carried by the receptacle, said guiding means comprising shoulders, whereby the proper positioning of a cap within the chute is determined, and a revoluble serrated wheel adjacent the outlet and adapted to enga-ge caps adjacent one of the shoulders, whereby such caps may be kept in motion on their way to the chute.

6. The combination of a receptacle adapted to contain a plurality of caps, a chute leading from the receptacle, a plurality of peripheral shoulders forming guiding means for the caps on their way to the chute, movable means for engagement with the caps adjacent the shoulders, whereby they may be moved, and a revoluble wheel adjacent 40 the outlet for engagement with the caps adjacent one of the shoulders, whereby the said caps may be kept moving on their way to the chute.

7. The combination of a receptacle adapt-x ed to contain a plurality of caps, the front of the receptacle being open, peripheral shoulders adjacent the opening, a chute communicating with the receptacle adjacent the bottom, the'upper ends of the side walls of 50 ,the chute being adjacent the lower ends of some of the shoulders, a member rotatably mounted in position adjacent the front of the receptacle, resiliently mounted elements on the said member and moving therewith,

the paths of travel of the said elements being intermediate the said shoulders,'where by the said elements may engage some of the caps and move them, other caps coming adjacent the chute and entering it, and a rev- S0 be -kept moving, clogging 

